Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-19

very soft fellow to submit to being played
with in that manner. You have given
those men a quarter of a million or more
apiece; and though word from you
would bring them to their deserts you
choose to let them be free to laugh in their
sleeves at you, and to do as they please
And for all this what do you receive? II
beggarly $4,000 at the most ~
Shevelin's narrow, clouded face had
been worked nervously while the inspec-
tor spoke; but the last words seemed to
sting him beyond endurance. He jumped
to his feet with an oath, convulsed by
sudden passion.
"Ten thousand dollars ~ he cried out
mo nor nothing like it AS true as |
stand here, inspector, the most they ever
gave me was $1,000; and then they came
and made me give back the half of that ~
The inspector leaned back in his chair
and stroked his moustache. The hour
that he had been awaiting so many months
had come at last. Sneveln had broken
down, and the veil of the mystery was
about to be lifted. He touched the cleo
trio button behind his desk, and motioned
the eXwatchman to resume his seat.
at would have saved us both trouble If
you had said that before" he remarked.
"However, better late than never. The
thing for you to do now is to sit down
there and tell me. everything you know
about this affair, from the beginning to
the end. Whatever you keep back will
count against you. NaXon," he added, to
the officer who entered, you will take
down this mans confession in writing.
See that we are not interrupted"
Shevelin dropped into his chair, com
pletely subdued. His outbreak of passion
had been unprecedented, but it had
opened the door to a complete revelation,
and there was no drawing back now. In
broken voice he began his story, and,
prompted now and then by a question or
suggestion from the inspector, he unfold
ed the inner history of the great MAMMAL
tan Bank robbery.
CHAPTER XIV.
The first intimation that Shevlin had re-
ceived of the existence of plot to rob
the Manhattan bank dated back to the
early part of 1874, when he had occupied
his position as Waterman nearly two
years. He was one day accosted by man
whom he had known in his boyhood, and
had met from time to time since then,
who informed him that he and four or five
others desired to make an attempt on the
bank vault. He pointed out that the
Manhattan kept at least as much money
in its safes as any bank in New York, and
that its position rendered it more easily
accessible than any other. He told Sheve-
lin that his share of the plumber would
make him rich man, and that all he
would be required to do would be to look
another way until the gang got into the
bank. He would run no risks, and his re-
ward would be enormous.
For long time Sheyelln turned deaf
ear to these proposals. He was married
man he was proud of the trust reposed
in him, and he was apprehensive of the
consequences of the crime. The burglar,
however, would not take no for an answer,
and he persisted in his efforts until Sheve-
Inns good resolutions finally weakened
and gave way. He told his friend to hold
his men in readiness and he would fix a
date, when he should be on duty, for the
accomplishment of the robbery.
The name of Sheveln's friend was Tim
Tracy, and he was already well known to
the police. He was. a plumber by trade
and by practice general thief a sturdy,
muscular fellow, over six feet in height,
and desperate man when cornered. He
had served more than one term of i'm
prisonment, and more than once he had
escaped from confinement. Among others
who were associated with him in this en-
terprse were the famous Johnny Dobbs
and George l.. Howard, otherwise known
| as Western George. a gentleman by birth,
man of collegiate education, a skilled
machinist and in many respects the ablest
and most remarkable bank burglar that
ever operated in America.
The first thing to be done was to raise
money enough to pay for the manufacture
of the fine tools necessary to open the
safes. No small sum will suffice for such
purpose. Only the best materials will
serve, and the most thorough and expert
workmanship. Instead of adopting the
obvious course of applying to John ID.
Grady, whose purse was always open 10
| the needs of his friends-if backed by a
reasonable prospect of cent per cent-Tracy
chose the more Independent, but more
perlous course of raising the wind by
promiscuous robbery Burglary, pocket.
picking. sneak -theving. highway robbery
nothing came amiss to him that offered
a prospect of increasing his capital The
stake he was playing for was so large that
could he secure it, he would be above the
need of further labor for the rest of his
life. All was going on prosperously when
envious fate caused Mr. Tracy to be caught
in the act of emptying gentleman
pockets on the highway and he was com.
mitted to States prison for term of years
| The rest of the gang dispersed for the
time being, and thus the first attack on
the Manhattan bank ended ere it had well
begun.
Johnny Dobbs was the next champion
to take up the jimmy left by the gallant
Tracy, and with him were George Howard
and a man who now appears tor the first
time on the scene, but whose burglarious
renown entities him to be dubbed the Ma
poleon of his profession-no other than
the redoubtabe Jimmy Hope. These three
men We're together equal to any under.
taking, and the combination was made
still stronger by the addition of one George
Mason, who was not only a master of his
craft but man who, like Dobbs, had nc
objection to using revolver when occa
sion demanded. This band of operators
did not suffer from the pecuniary draw
back which had brought the first one tc
such disastrous end, for they had received
the substantial aid from Mr.. Grady, and
were provided with all the implements
they required Grady had also furnished
them with special information regarding
the nature of the combination lock with
which they had to deal, and with certain
other useful details as to the internal ar
rangements of the bank BY what mean,
Grady obtained this knowledge he did moi
state, nor was it ever made known unit
the publication of the present narrative
Few secrets have heen better kept thar
this, which is, to all practical intents, ant
purposes a secret still.
| Meanwhile Shevelin, on being apnroach